Archive for August 6th, 2012

Wow! Evidently, I have been nominated to receive the One Lovely Blog Award! This is by far the most prestigious award I have ever won for the work I have been doing on my blog for a little less than a year now. It also happens to be the only award I have won–but I am absolutely thrilled to accept it! Thank you to Yulia at Transition to Balance (http://transition2balance.wordpress.com/) for nominating me!

There are five steps that one must follow to accept the award. They are:

Link back to the blogger who nominated you

Post the award image on your blog

Share seven facts about yourself

Nominate 15 other bloggers for this award

Contact the bloggers that you have chosen to let them know that they have been nominated

So, I have taken care of the first two. Here are seven facts about myself:

Wow, this summer has been 10 times crazier than I ever would have thought. I snapped the photo above when I was running errands about 10 days ago. Even when it’s busy, you’ve gotta stop and check out the clouds… it’s been too hot for a lot of stopping and smelling those proverbial roses.

I’m getting ready to teach General Psych for the first time this fall. I start in less than 3 weeks and it is a LOT of work, on top of dissertation work and working a stressful 40 hour work week.

So, I have to admit that this blog has suffered. And I thank all of you who stopped by, left me messages, checked to see if I was okay, etc. I really enjoy doing the blog and unfortunately, there are only a few things in life that I can put on the back burner.

I’m thinking the Fall will be just as busy but I will do my best to find still, clear moments to share things I’ve read, videos I’ve watched, etc.

I’ve just re-watched Clara’s Heart with Whoopi Goldberg and Neil Patrick Harris several days ago when I was home with a migraine. It’s the story of several losses and how everyone involved deals with their losses. And well, it’s fun to see Neil Patrick Harris as a little boy. If you have Netflix check it out.

I picked up a new book for my Kindle. . . The Wisdom of Listening by Mark Brady. I have to say that I am really enjoying the few stolen moments that I find to read a couple of passages.

In this book, Mark states,

“Once you have the attitude in your mind and heart, no matter how distressing your work environment, you can be really happy. . . Before beginning your daily meditations, spend some time reflecting on the suffering in the world, or your friends’ or patients’ suffering, and as their suffering touches and opens your heart, let your compassion grow even deeper, and your intentions to help even stronger.”

There is a lot of suffering that goes on at my full time job. Our direct care staff work long hard hours with little gratitude. We work with very difficult clients and there isn’t a day that goes by that their shifts are probably not very demanding.

Add on top of that all kinds of threats in the last year. . . the Governor will close your site. The Governor is going to take a big chunk of your pay.

And then there is the world at large that might not impact us day to day but it does wear on our psyche. . . a new shooting today in neighboring WI. . . because someone’s religious beliefs and looks were different.

And a few weeks ago, another shooting in Colorado. . . in Aurora which is not that far from Columbine and it is the story of many systems going wrong. . . the mental health system, schools, enforcement of gun control or the lack thereof.

Of course, there is also the hostility that is the backdrop of most elections. . .

The Buddha was so wise is saying that our problem was suffering and illusion. We can spend a lot of time focused on the lack, the need, the pain, etc.

But I like Mark’s reframe in this quote. It’s much like the concepts of metta and tonglen. We cannot ignore or be ignorant of the pain and suffering in the world. If we do, we can become foolish or calloused.

But we cannot fret and let the world paralyze us or worse, make us wall off our hearts.

So what do we do? We walk the middle path. . . we acknowledge the suffering in the world, we hold it close and let it fill us with compassion so that our hearts break open to hold more.

There is so much pain in the world and sometimes it feels like not nearly enough love. So, when we look at holding compassion and lovingkindness for those who suffer, are filled with fear, are alone, etc., we generate lovingkindness in its midst. We create love because of the suffering of others.

I know that some will say that just praying for people doesn’t do any real good. I would disagree. I don’t know if praying for some different outcome will work, but opening your heart and allowing it to expand to hold much more can never be wrong.

So, before you settle in with a difficult situation, a full schedule, chronic pain, heart break, and other craziness in the world, take those 10 minutes to sit with the suffering on a global level and allow it to touch your innermost essence. And allow the space for your essence to foster new and deeper love as well.